In The Media

Dentistry from the Heart

The line-up began before 2 a.m., June 1, at Bradford Family Dentistry, 76 Holland St. West, for Dentistry from the Heart – a day of free cleaning, fillings and simple extractions, for residents without dental insurance.

It was Dr. Jesse Chai’s way of giving back to the Bradford community, as he and his team of 3 hygienists and 16 volunteers donated their time to assist those who have been putting off a trip to the dentist, because of financial constraints.

Every operatory was full, during the day-long event.

The stories were similar: teens too old for free coverage through the Healthy Smiles Ontario program; retirees not old enough to receive support; part-time or contract employees without health or dental benefits. For whatever reason, they found themselves unable to afford basic dental care.

In all, the team assisted 67 people, providing 22 fillings, 29 cleanings, and 16 extractions – work valued at $18,195. The initiative had support from companies Acmedent, Henry Schein Arcona, Sinclair Dental and Butler, that provided dental supplies, and from Adventure Capitalism, which donated website services.

There was consensus among the patients, waiting to be seen. One, that the government should recognize that dental health is part of overall health, and include dental services in OHIP coverage. And two, that the actions of Dr. Chai and his staff were “amazing”, “generous”, and well-appreciated.

By Miriam King

By 6 a.m. on May 27, patients were already lined up in the entrance to 76 Holland St. West, where Bradford Family Dentistry has its offices.

They were there to participate in Dentistry From The Heart – an event that provides basic cleanings, fillings or extractions, free of charge.

It was the first time that Dr. Jesse Chai and his team at Bradford Family Dentistry have participated in Dentistry From The Heart.

The program had its start in the U.S., launched by Dr. Vincent Monticciolo in 2001 as a means of giving back to the community, by providing dental care services to persons on fixed incomes, social assistance, or without a dental plan.

Since that date, Dentistry From The Heart has helped more than 50,000 patients in the U.S. and Canada, with participating dentists donating over $10 million in free services.

Dr. Chai learned of Dentistry From The Heart while attending a course. “There was a dentist talking about this… It seemed like a very worthwhile cause.”

He and his staff – and even some patients – volunteered their time, on May 27. By the end of the day, at 6 p.m., the team had seen 60 patients, and contributed an estimated $13,000 in free dental care.

“A lot of people don’t have the insurance, and can’t afford to have the dental work done,” Dr. Chai explained. “It all comes down to wanting to provide something greater to my community. The service provided by Dentistry From The Heart helps more than just a patient’s teeth – it gives them a renewed reason to smile!”

“It was quite a busy day, and we all felt great about how the day went…. Hope to do it again next year!”

Dr. Chai thanked his staff, volunteers, suppliers Acmedent, Henry Schein and Butler, for donating supplies; Practice marketers for the promotional flyers and postcards, and Adventure Capitalism for web services. “I also want to thank our wonderful patients for their support for this cause and their encouragement, as well as all the patients who came out for the event, which helped make it such a big success!”

Bradford Family Dentistry Launches Unique Fundraising Event!

Date: Sunday September 27, 2009

Place: 12pm-3pm – 76 Holland Street West, Bradford.

Dr. Jesse Chai, Dentist, of Bradford Family Dentistry was thrilled to host the Bradford Family Fest in Bradford on Sunday September 27th 2009.

The event was not only be to recognize existing patients, but wishes to provide a community service and raise money for cancer research.